What happens during telophase?

During telophase, the chromosomes uncoil, two separate nuclei develop and the cytoplasm divides. The cell is completely divided in two by the end of telophase.

Telophase is the final cycle of cell division for eukaryotic cells in both in mitosis and meiosis. A eukaryote is any cell which contains a nucleus and other organelles within a cell membrane. There are three main stages of telophase:

1. The chromosomes move to opposite ends of the poles and begin to unwind. They assume an extended state, characteristically seen in interphase, which is the growth cycle of a eukaryotic cell.
2. A nuclear envelope forms around each set of chromosomes, the nucleoli reform and ribosomes are assembled.
3. As the nucleoli forms, the cell's cytoplasm begins to divide. This division of the cytoplasm is referred to as cytokinesis. A cleavage furrow, or indentation around the cell's equator, appears in animal cells. The furrow becomes deeper and more pronounced causing the cell to eventually be pinched in two. At this point, telophase is complete.

After telophase, the next stage is interphase. During this stage, the cell prepares for another cycle of cell division. The chromatids produced during the previous cycle replicate as part of this cycle.